Apparatus for catalytic conversions and other contact mass operations



Filed Sept. 1, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 gvwwwtou mamas 125M060, Job/7 Ill/ a Jan. 2, 1940. T; P. SIMPSON El AL APPARATUS FOR CATALYTIC CONVERSIONS AND OTHER CONTACT MASS OPERATIONS Jan. 2, 1940.

' T. P. SIMPSON ET AL APPARATUS FOR CATALYTIC CONVERSIONS AND OTHER CONTACT MASS OPERATIONS Filed Sept. 1, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1940- T. P. SIMPSON ET AL 2,185,923

APPARATUS FOR CATALYTIC CONVERSIONS AND OTHER CONTACT MASS OPERATIONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 1, 1957 Homes 1? 50/7 0500, J0/7/7 l4! Pay/7e @VMX arww Jail 1940- T. P. SIMPSON ET AL 2,185,928

APPARATUS FOR CATALYTIC CONVERSIONS AND OTHER c'oNTAcT Ass OPERATIONS Filed Sept. 1, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7590/2705 1. 5227 7500, dafi/z W Pay/7e Join. A amw/ey, J:

Z wu Q imlaximmmw Patented Jan. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR- OATALYTIG OONVERSIONQ AND OTHER CONTACT MASS OPERATIONS Thomas P. Simpson, John W. Payne and John A.

Crowley, Jr., Woodbury, and Clark 8. .l'eitsworth, Plainiield, N.

Vacuum Oil Company,

J., assignors to Simon!- Incorporated, New

4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus in which there may be conducted catalytic conversions, or other operations as, for instance, such operations as outlined in our co-pending application 5 Serial No. 162,069, filed September 1, 1937, in-

volving the use of a mass of contact material, of the type wherein a fluid, for example a reaction mixture, flows through a contact mass, such as a bed of granular material which may for example be a catalyst, a support for a catalyst, or the like.

It is particularly directed to apparatus capable of conveniently and efiectively controlling opera tions of .such nature wherein the catalytic con-' version itself, or subsequent regeneration of the catalyst in situ, is accompanied by exothermic or endothermic phenomena, which, if not properly controlled, have deleterious efiects upon the emciency of the conversion and/or regeneration.

The apparatus herein disclosed is particularly applicable to those catalytic conversions, exo= thermic or endothermic, wherein reaction is brought about by a longitudinal flow of the reaction mixture, at comparatively high velocity, through a deep bed of catalyst or contact mass. In such reactions, due to a tendency to increased reaction in certain zones, as for example near the entry of the reaction mixture into the catalyst, when the reaction is endothermic,, loss in temperature of certain portions of the catalyst bed renders those portions less active. When the reaction is exothermic, without proper control of thermal conditions, heat builds up in the reaction till zone with undesirable side reactions, injury to the ation operations wherein the regeneration reacuniformity of quality in the reaction product. This is accomplished by providing a plurality of long unit paths of flow relatively thin in at least one transverse dimension through the contact mass wherein the variation in length of paths 5 traveled by difierent portions of the fluid flowing through the mass is small. Also, provision may be made for by-passing virtually any desired section'of each unit path so that, in case the path becomes blocked at some point, as for instance 1 by accumulated fines, unburned carbon, or the like, instead oi the entire path becoming useless or impaired, the particular point in the path which is blocked is by-passed and substantially full use of the contact mass through-out the remainder of the path is secured. Various embodiments 1 accomplishing this are illustrated in the drawings and described herein. This subject matter as well as the broad concept disclosed in this and our other applications noted above is claimed in our copending application Serial No. 308,058, filed December 7, 1939.

Efiective temperature control throughout the contact mass is accomplished. Heat transfer elements are associated with the respective catalyst paths, and every part of the contact mass lies suficiently close to a heat transfer element to insure notable uniformity of temperature throughout the entire contact mass. Heat can be put into the contact mass or removed from it as desired. Heat distribution'between different portions of the catalyst mass is effected. The means for efiecting this transfer of heat and control of temperature involves positive circulation of heat transfer medium at relatively high velocity through the heat transfer elements. A high boiling point liquid having a relatively high unit volume heat absorption capacity per degree temperature change is prefered, although fluid media such as vapors, steam, gases, air, and the like, 40 may be used. Means for heating or cooling the circulating heat transfer medium are provided.

A small volume of heat transfer medium relative to volume of contact mass is used. This conserves size and cost of apparatus, with a high proportion of total apparatus volume occupied by contact mass. It gives flexibility to the operation of the apparatus, because the entire volume of heat transfer medium in the apparatus is renewed at short intervals by the recirculation, with corresponding quick response .of the apparatus to the temperature control eifected by adding heat to or abstracting heat from the recirculating body of heat transfer medium. This is important in practically all operations and particularly in operations where reactions are conducted in sequence at difierent temperature levels, where temperature must be built up to initiate a reaction, and the like. A large area of heat transfer surface in contact with the catalyst mass relative to volume of heat transfer medium in the apparatus is used. This is important in making possible the use of a small volume of heat exchange medium with its attendant flexibility of operation just mentioned. These features result in advantages in design, construction and cost of apparatus; e. g., in some forms of the apparatus fewer heat transfer fluid passages are required, wider spacing of these. elements is possible, stronger headers are made possible thereby, or thinner but equally strong headers. A high ratio of heat transfer surface to volume of contact mass is used, this being important in effecting adequate temperature control throughout the entire contact mass. This extra surface is utilized also to define the flow paths through contact mass.

The foregoing novel features are important in practical operation. The optimum and limiting values of'the ratios; etc, mentioned above, are important to the invention and have now been reasonably well determined and are set forth in detail below. The above-described requirements for best operation have been verified by actual trial and experimentation. Adherence to the novel principles and limits set forth herein results in advantages of extreme importance and, con-' versely, departure therefrom results in serious disadvantages. For example, in many operations, regeneration of the contact mass is an oxidation reaction, and if properly controlled as herein described, the whole operation ordinarily can be conducted with two catalyst cases built in accordance with the principles and data given above, one case being in regeneration while the other is on production. Substantial departure from the principles stated herein, for example departure from the stated ratios, results in slowing down regeneration and increasing length of cycle to the point where regeneration cannot be effected diu'ing the useful on production time of one catalyst case, thereby requiring three cases instead of two. Furthermore, such departure from the requirements of this invention results in wider temperature variations within the body of the contact mass, less uniformity of reaction and regeneration, and lower yield per unit volume of contact mass and per unit volume of material charged. If it is attempted to force the operation to offset some of these disadvantages, other serious objections are encountered including destruction of the catalyst because of excessively intense burning at localized points.

To completely understand the apparatus which embodies our invention and the process to be practiced therein, reference is now made to the drawings attached to this specification. In these drawings, Figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of one form of the apparatus; Figure 2 shows a cross-section of that form, and Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, set forth certain optional arrangements which may be used therein. Figures '7 and 8 show longitudinal sections. in planes 90 apart of another form of apparatus embodying the same general characteristics. Figure 9 is a the diagram explaining one feature of the invention. Figure 10 is a sketch showing a longitudinal section of a form of apparatus embodying the same essentials and well adapted forcommercial practice of the invention. Figure 11 is a cross-section of the apparatus shown in Figure 10. Figures 12 and 13 shown an alternative general form of construction. Figure 14 is an illustration of how the apparatus with which this invention is concerned may be set up and operated for commercial practice of the process to be conducted therein.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section in somewhat diagrammatic form of an apparatus embodying the essential features necessary for the practice of our invention. The apparatus of Figure 1 consists of a shell l3 lying between body members I4 and I 5, and completed at either end by end pieces l6 and I1. Tube plate I8 is placed between members l4 and I6, and tube plate I9 is placed between members l5 and H. Tubes 20 extend between tube sheets l8 and I9 and are securely fastened in the respective tube sheets by rolling, welding, or other form of fastening appropriate. Orifice plate 2| is placed between parts It and I4 and the tubes 20 pass through plate 2| without being afiixed thereinto. Orifice plate 22, similarly, is placed between members l3 and I 5, and tubes 20 similarly pass through orifice plate 22. The end member I! is equipped with an inlet fltting 23 and end member I6 is equipped with an outlet fitting 24. Inlet member 25 communicates with the space inside of member l5 between plates l9 and 22, surrounding tubes 20. Outlet member 26 communicates with the space within member l4 between plates [8 and 2|, and around tubes 20. Orifice plates 2| and 22 are equipped with orifices 21, distributed uniformly over that portion of their area not occupied by passages for tubes 20. A fluid reaction material entering through inlet 25 will pass through the orifices 21 in plate 22, longitudinally through the space within the shell l3, through the orifices 21 in plate 2|, and leave the system through fitting 26. A second fluid may enter through 23, pass through tubes 20 and leave the apparatus through fitting 24 without coming in physical contact with the first-named fluid. Tubes 20 being constructed of heat conductive material, the two fluids are in heat exchange relationship. The direction of flow of either fluid may be changed without altering this relationship. The shell l3 serves as the container for a catalytic or contact mass preferably composed of granular particles. This contact mass may be introduced and removed by making use of the openings normally covered by plates 28 and 29.

The design and arrangement of the tubes 20 within the shell I 3 is such that these tubes 20 also serve to divide the catalyst bed maintained in shell l3 into a large number of longitudinal passages, whose greatest length is parallel to the direction of reaction mixture flow through the shell. To assist in this division, and, of greater importance, to augment the ratio between external surface and internal surface of the heat exchanger'tubes 20, fins 30 are placed upon the external surface of the heat exchanger tubes. To properly subdivide the contact mass into suitable longitudinal passages, the tubes and flns preferably should be arranged so as to permit the least resistance to longitudinal flow and at the same time to furnish a maximum resistance to lateral flow, although it is usually preferred that no unit pathor passage becompletelyisolated from stoppage 48. As indicated by the flow-lines, the remainder will pass through some horizontal incontact with other passages for reasons stated above. The arrangement is preferably such as to give a substantially constant cross-sectional area of catalyst throughout the length of each passage and of the catalyst case, which of itself promotes longitudinal fiow under uniform condi-.

tions.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the catalystcontaining portion of the apparatus of Figure 1 and sets forth a convenient and economical arrangement of tubes and fins to accomplish these purposes, which arrangement is shown in more detail in Figure 3. Figures 4, 5, and 6 show other optional arrangements of finned tubes. In these figures the set-up is designed for the circulation of heat exchange medium inside the tubes, the contact mass being outside.

It is also possible to preserve the longitudinal positioning of the passages within the catalyst mass while making use of heat exchange tubes positioned transversely thereto. In Figures 7 and 8 two views are shown of a design in which this is accomplished. This apparatus consists of a catalyst casing 3i, mounted above a reaction mixture inlet housing 32, which is divided from the catalyst space by distributor plate 33 in which there are orifices 36. Above the catalyst chamber is reaction mixture exit housing 35. On two sides of the catalyst casing 3i, auxiliary plates 35 and 3? define spaces 38 and 39, which act as inlet and outlet chambers for heat exchange medium which may enter by 49, and leave by M, or the reverse, and which is conducted through the catalyst bed by a series of tubes d2 extending from side to side of the catalyst case. These tubes are arranged in vertical rows and are preferably equipped with fins 63, the tubes and fins being arranged so as to subdivide the catalyst mass into a number of longitudinally extending paths of relatively great length in proportion to cross-section, as shown. This object may also be approximated by using smaller vertical spacing of unfinned tubes, while maintaining the same horizontal spacing.

munication of contact mass conduits along their length, as shown in previous figures. This constitutes one feature of this invention. In Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, this restricted intercommunication is shown by the interstices between'the fins. For any given zone layer along the flow paths through the contact mass, which zone may be considered as being relatively thin and at substantially uniform static pressure under normal conditions of fiow, the free area for fiow between conduits in a transverse direction is relatively small compared with the free area in a direction longitudinal to the flow of reaction material. Normal fiow is largely longitudinal of the respective conduits but substantial flow between conduits to compensate for abnormal conditions is possible.

To understand how uniform distribution of fiow may be accomplished, reference is made to Figure 9 of the drawings, in which there is shown in diagrammatic form three passages, d5, d5, and 46, each packed with contact mass and between which' there is restricted communication at intervals along their length by cross passages M. In passage Gd there is a stoppage d8, indicated by a denser packing of the contact mass. Equal amounts of reaction mixture, as indicated by the flow lines, are introduced at the bottom of the several paths. Only a portion of that normally flowing in path can pass through the the stoppage it will return to passage M, so that in this manner there is maintained throughout the case a substantially uniform distribution of flowing reaction material among the several paths and along their length by virtue of'their restricted lateral intercommunication.

Figure 10 of the drawings shows a form of reaction case which not only admirably embodies the essential features of our invention, but which is considerably more adaptable for the commercial practice of the invention than the form shown in Figure 1, in that it is able to successfully withstand the strains and distortions set up by differential expansion of the several parts of the apparatus upon heating and cooling. The apparatus shown in longitudinal section in Figure 10 is enabled to handle these stresses by means of an internal floating head arrangement. The apparatus of Figure 10 consists of a shell as, to which are attached end sections and 5!. Reaction'mixture is admitted to the shell space 69 by inlet fitting 52 and reaction products are withdrawn by outlet fitting 53 in and member 5i. Between shell 49 and end member 58, there is placed a heavy tube sheet 5a in which are rolled tubes 55. These tubes 55 at their upper end are secured in the tube sheet member of floating head 56. A large central tube 51? is also secured between tube sheet 5E and the floating head 56. Heat exchange medium is introduced by inlet fitting 51', led to the space within end fitting 50, through tubes 55 into floating head 56, thence into central tube 57 and out through outlet 58. The tubes 55 are equipped with fins 59 as before. Catalyst is confined between support plate 60 and plate Bl, both of which have orifices 62 ,for the passage of reaction mixture therethrough.

To sup-port plate 60 some distance'above tubesheet 54 and thus provide a plenum chamber for the introduction of reaction material, there are used short lengths of pipe 63 surrounding tubes 55, resting on tube sheet 5d and supporting orifice plate 66.. The fins 59 on tubes 55 extend between plates 60 and Bi, and plate 6! conveniently may be supported upon the upper ends of these fins if it is so desired. This apparatus is arranged to be installed in vertical position and may be supported conveniently by the skirt 6d as shown. It is preferably arranged as shown for assembly by means of bolted flanges and may be charged with catalyst before placing end piece Si in final position and discharged of catalyst, at the infrequent intervals necessary, by lifting shell as free from tube-plate at until the catalyst may be removed from above plate 63. It is obvious that in this design the direction of passage of either reaction material or heat exchange medium may be reversedfrom that indicated while preserving the essential features of operation shown. It will be seen that in this design convenient provision for the handling of difierential heat expansion and the like has been made and a design convenient and economical of fabrication has been attained.

Figure 11 shows a horizontal cross-section of Figure 10, taken at a point between the ends of the catalyst-containing space.

It may be seen that these various forms of aprelatively deep in proportion to their cross-sectional area and are in heat exchange relationship throughout their length with a heat exchange medium by which their temperature may be closely controlled while in operation. Each design accomplishes this by arranging in one form or another a series of conduits extending longitudinally oi the direction of reaction material flow, which conduits are filled with a catalyst mass and then surrounding and/or defining these with other conduits through which flows a heat exchange medium.

As stated above, certain factors or proportions in the design of the apparatus are important features of this invention. Taking a typical example, where the catalyst mass is composed of granular particles of clay, which may-themselves be the catalyst or in and/or on which an active catalytic material such as a metallic oxide is deggposited, the following criteria may be used as typical of commercial design. The dimensions of the apparatus and tube spacing should be such that the unit reaction paths defined thereby should be 3 or more feet in length, up to 15 feet 35 or more, and of small minimum transverse dimension, one of the cross-sectional dimensions of the unit path preferably not exceding 1 to 2 inches. The several ratios stated elsewhere herein should be observed. The maximum distance of any catalyst particle from any heat extraction surface preferably should be about inch, and not more than about 1 inch. The average distance of any catalyst particle from a heat extraction surface is preferably about ,4; inch, and not more than about inch. When fins are used, to insure proper heat transmission, design should be such that AT(fin), the temperature drop from fin tip to fin base, should not be greater than about 25%,

and preferably about 10% of AT(Total) the temperature drop from contact bed to heat exchange medium. Designed proportion of fins should be such that for any cross-section of fin, "1, the length of the cross-section, divided by d, the least transverse dimension of fin, (see Figure 3), should not be greater than about 12 and preferably about 4 to 8. That is 1/d=not greater than 12; lld=preferably 4 to 8.

The optimum dimensions, ratios, etc., given herein are based particularly upon use of a cylindrical catalyst granule about 2 mm. in diameter by about 4 mm. average length, or any other shape having a like mass and percentage of voids per unit volume of packed catalyst. As the catalyst particle size increases, the ratio of heat extraction surface to unit catalyst volume may decrease and the maximum distance of catalyst particle from heat extraction surface may increase. The same changes may be made with a catalyst mass of greater heat conductivity than that indicated. When the design controlling operation is that of regeneration, a high degree of coking will call for increased heat extraction surface/catalyst volume ratio and decreased maximum distance, and conversely. It will be understood, therefore, that the optimum specific dimensions, ratios; etc., will vary somewhat according to the particular needs of a particular operation. No claim is made herein to any particular composition or physical form of catalyst or contact mass.

Each design observes certain rules of proportion of parts which are set forth herein, and upon which the unique capability of the apparatus is in large part based. Provided these rules of proportion of parts are followed, the apparatus may also take that form wherein the contact mass is contained in tubular members, properly spaced one from another, and surrounded by pos v y culated heat transfer medium. Figures 12 and 13 show such an apparatus.

Figure 14 shows in diagram form an operating setup for the use of a catalytic reaction chamber embodying these features in a reaction process. In Figure 14, 85 indicates a source of supply of reaction material, and 66 indicates apparatus for the preparation of that reaction material which may be a heater, a mixing device, or merely a measuring device or pump embodying whatever features are necessary to present the contemplated material at a proper pressure and temperature, in a proper physical and chemical condition for reaction at the entrance to the reaction chamber 61, which is here shown as being of the type described in Figure 1. Reaction products pass through pipe 68 to purification means 69, which may be any means or set-up of apparatus appropriate to the reaction and material under consideration, and from thence to means 10 for the disposal of reaction products. While reaction is taking place a fluid heat exchange medium of physical properties suitable to the reaction temperature is being circulated by pump H through pipe 12, through the internal tubes in chamber 61, through pipe 13, and through heat exchanger 14, wherein its temperature may be adjusted to the demands of the reaction by use of a cooling or heating medium introduced through pipe 15. On the completion of reaction, valve 16 may be closed and valve 11 may be closed, isolating the reaction case from reaction material supply and reaction product disposal. Valve 18 may be opened and, if it is necessary or appropriate to purge the contact mass of reaction material, a purging agent may be admitted through pipe 19, and the products of purging disposed of through pipe 80. Then valve 8| may be opened and regenerative medium supplied by pump or blower 82 may be passed through the contact mass within the case 61, the products of regeneration being disposed of through pipe 80. While regeneration is going on the circulation of the heat exchange medium through the circuit provided will be continued, except that the temperature level of the heat exchange medium appropriate for regeneration, which may not be the same and frequently is not the same as the reaction temperature, is adjusted by proper manipulation of exchanger 14 and the by-pass therearound.

The apparatus thus shown is capable of being used for many reactions, such as for example the catalytic treatment of hydrocarbons in vapor or liquid phase, the oxidation of sulphur gases to sulphuric anhydride, the oxidation or partial oxidation of various organic materials, and other reactions of generally similar natures.

As stated above, various relationships and ratios involving such matters as amount of heat transferring surface, volume of heat exchange medium and volume of contact mass are important features of the invention, and have been reasonably well determined by actual operation and experimentation. The following figures represent a preferred relationshipwhich has been found to operate satisfactorily. It will be understood that the figures given refer only to that portion of the apparatus which contains the contact mass and do not include the adjacent zones where tube headers, heat exchange medium manifolds, or distribution spaces, and vapor passages exist but which do not contain contact mass. This'is also true of the figures stated the claims.

Volume of catalyst including vo ids -'u.4 Volume of heat uchan e metal (tubes and flush-19.6 Volume occupiedby mo ten salt in tubes 9.0

Total (volume of s ace occupied by catalyst, 1-000 Heat exchange surface per cubic inch of catalyst 2.0 sq. in.

We give the following data to define the preferred range for best design and operation:

Volumue of catalyst including voids 60-80% of space in catalyst zone Volume of molten salt= 2-15% of spacein catalyst zone Volume of metal (tubes fin =1530% of space in catalyst zone and s) Volume of catalyst plus salt plus metal =100.00% of space in catalyst zone molten salt plus metal 4-12 sq. in. Heat exchange surface per cubic inch of catalyst =1.5-6 sq. in.

It will be understood that, while best design and operation in accordance with this invention is obtained by observing the limits and ranges set forth above, a gradual approach to such limits and ranges will naturally begin to produce some of the advantages obtained by the present invention. There is, therefore, a borderline range of relationships which do not yield the results obtainable by practice of the preferred form of the invention but within which some of the advantages of the invention begin to be realized. For the purpose of defining this borderline range we give below figures defining relationships beyond the limits of which operating dificulties would arise which would seriously impair the emciency of the process or would increase the cost to a most undesirable level as compared with our preferred design and operation.

Volume of catalyst including voids =4090% of space in catalyst zone Volume of molten salt: 1-25% of space in catalyst zone Volume of metal (tubes and fins) 550% of space incatalyst zone Heat exchange surface per cubic inch of molten salt =5-100 sq. in. Heat exchange surface per cubic inch of metal in heat transfer tubes and fins=330 sq. in. Heat exchange surface per cubic inch of molten salt plus metal =2-20 sq. in. Heat exchange surface per cubic inch of catalyst =0.5-8 sq. in.

These relationships. and ratios, as herein set forth, define the relationship between the hydraulic radius of the catalyst-containing reaction path, the mass velocity of the critical reactant, and the mass velocity of the heat exchange medium. The design is controlled by the ratio of heat transferred to heat liberated or absorbed in the catalyst. If the heat load per unit time is greater for the regeneration, as in many cases, the regen: eration medium may be the critical reactant for design purposes. Under proper conditions, as herein set forth, heat liberation (or demand) may be made subsantially uniform per unit volume of catalyst, (at least in the critical zone, although the principles herein set forth tend strongly against the existence of zones of activity higher or lower than average). Heat transfer rate also may be made substantially uniform per unit area of heat transfer surface. The'proper proportion fining that volume is then shown by Heat liberated per unit time per unit volume Heat transferred per unit time per unit area catalyst volume to heat transfer surface de-.

wherein HR is a quantity of the nature of a hydraulic radius, having the dimensions of length, and as shown hereinbefore has a broad range of from to 2". and a preferred range of from to 36". The rate of heatliberation or heat demand is a function of the mass velocity of critical reactant in weight per unit of time per unit volume of catalyst. For example, in a regeneration operation burning carbonfrom a mass of the nature of clay, it would be thatrate which, while not exceeding a temperature of about 1,000 F. under conditions of operation, would remove carbon at the rate of from about 1% by weight of catalyst per hour to about 10% per hour, for a broad range of possible operation, and from about 3% to about 6% for preferred operation. The mass velocity of heat transfer medium of course depends upon the specific heat and other characteristics of the medium. It is best defined as that mass velocity of heat exchange medium which will extract the required amount of heat while undergoing a temperature rise of not greater than about 50 F., and preferably of from 2 to 10 F.

The advantages of this apparatus are particularly apparent when the reaction to be conducted is endothermic, or when it is one which, when uncontrolled, may localize in zones of unduly high activity. In the apparatus of this invention, the construction serves to confine the flow of the reaction mixture to catalyst masses of proper dimensions, eliminating objectionable cross and random flow. Likewise, the use of heat exchange medium, (as fused salts, fused alloys, and the like) in the manner shown, permits the circulation of relatively great amounts of heat exchange medium per unit of time (large heat containing capacity), not substantially higher in temperature than the optimum reaction temperature, throughout the catalyst mass to hold the whole length of each path at a uniform temperature, to hold all paths at uniform temperature, and to supply'latent heat of reaction as needed.

The apparatus is peculiarly adapted to regeneration in situ of contact masses which have been used in processes which deposit carbon and the like on the contact mass. In such cases, the regeneration reaction takes the form of a burning ofi of carbonaceous residues of a cokey or gummy nature. This reaction is highly exothermic and yet requires a comparatively high ignition temperature. Such reactions are difficult of 'control. If the heat is not carried away with sufflcient rapidity, sintering of catalyst mass with rapid loss of efficiency occurs. If carried away too rapidly or unevenly, regeneration becomes spotty, incomplete, too slow, or may even fail. The use of the apparatus of this invention results in very uniform regeneration because of. the means for proper control'and the optimum relations above described, as well as because the catalytic reaction having been uniform throughout the mass, the carbonaceous deposits are also substantially uniform. Regeneration may be accomplished far more rapidly because of the easy and positive control of temperature. The ability to use a relatively great amount of circulation of heat exchange medium of high heat containing capacity per unit volume per degree of temperature change permits delicate control of regeneration conditions. The regeneration is made uniform by the ability to maintain uniform conditions throughout the catalyst mass. Of great importance, cold air may be used in regeneration because of the presence of heat storage within the system sufl icient to bring it to kindling temperature in a very short time assisted by rapid circulation of the above-mentioned high heat content medium; Heat withdrawn from the catalyst chamber, since air may be preheated within the chamber, can be rejected at sufllciently high temperature level to permit of its use for other purposes.

of real importance in many reactions is the fact that the apparatus of this invention may be effectively and rapidly steam purged before and after regeneration by sweeping with steam under pressure, the type of path through the catalyst being such that contact of steam and catalyst is positive and assured.

All of these advantages are reflected, in the case of a hydrocarbon reaction process, by such advantages as high yields per unit volume of catalyst and unit volume of charging stock, rapid reaction rates, rapid, uniform and complete regeneration, quick purging, and low production of undesirable product per unit of charge.

The specific illustrations and optimum numerical data herein given are given largely by way of example and the invention is not understood to be limited thereby, except as such limitations are stated in the following claims. It is to be understood that the term catalyst" in the claims is intended to include any contact mass with which fluids are contacted during or for the purpose of a reaction, and the term catalytic reaction as used in the claims is intended to mean any such reaction, including regeneration of the catalyst or contact mass.

We claim:

1. In an apparatus for controlling the temperature of a body of contact material during a cycle of operation including alternative conversion of fluid reactants by passing said reactants through said contact material and regeneration of the contact material in situ by flowing a fluid regenerating, agent therethrough; a reaction chamber enclosing a reaction zone, a plurality of heat exchange conduits extending through said reaction zone, plane heat exchange fln surfaces extending longitudinally of said heat exchange conduits on the exterior thereof and cooperating with the exterior surfaces of said heat exchange conduits to define a plurality of long thin catalyst paths through the reaction zone parallel to said conduits obstructed to a material extent only by contact material, each of said paths being in restricted communication with at least one other of said paths through an opening between said surfaces, means for circulating a fluid heat control medium through said heat exchange conduits, means to introduce fluid to one end of said long thin paths, means'to remove fluid from the other end of said long thin paths, said paths of a desired heat control of the contact mass in all portions of said paths by conduction with a heat control fluid through said heat exchange surfaces, whereby fluid reactants and regenerating fluid are caused to traverse said long thin paths through the contact material disposed among said heat exchange conduits in eflective heat control relationship with said heat control medium.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the periphery of each of said paths is substantially greater than that required to encircle the cross-sectional area thereof.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the distance between said means to introduce fluid and said means to remove fluid is at least three feet.

4. In an apparatus for controlling the temperature of a body of contact material during a cycle of operation including alternative conversion of fluid reactants by passing said reactants through said contact material and regeneration of the contact material in situ by flowing a regenerating fluid therethrough; a reaction chamber enclosing a reaction zone containing a body of contact material, a plurality of heat exchange conduits extending through said reaction zone, plane heat exchange fln surfaces extending longitudinally of said heat exchange conduits on the exterior thereof and cooperating with the exterior surfaces of said heat exchange'conduits to define a plurality of long thin catalyst paths through the reaction zone parallel to said conduits obstructed to a material extent only by contact material, each of said paths being in restricted communication with at least one other of said paths through an opening between said surfaces, means for circulating a fluid heat control medium through said heat exchange conduits, means to introduce fluid to one end of said being sumciently thin to effect the maintenance long thin paths, means to remove fluid from the other end of said long thin paths, said paths being sufliciently thin to effect the maintenance of a desired heat control of the contact mass in all 

